Free Bill Aossey, send him on his way

To the editor:

I've known Bill Aossey for 30 years. He is a good man, kind, honest and civic minded. He has done much good in Cedar Rapids.

I was dismayed by his conviction for mislabeling meat. Like Martha Stewart's conviction for insider trading, it seems the court singled out the little guy. What about the corporations which recklessly ran the economy aground in 2007? When will we see some justice there? By comparison, mislabeling halal meat doesn't seem worthy of Aossey's humiliation.

This is not about public safety. It's about halal processing, a first millennium protocol ensuring humane slaughter and hygienic processing. Science has eclipsed these procedures. The meat in question apparently met safety standards. Why harass small-businessmen such as Aossey, while through the implementation of corporate-inspired, free trade agreements, we can no longer know where our food comes from, or whether it meets FDA standards we once relied upon?

Aossey admitted his guilt. Fine him and send him on his way! While he languishes in jail, what becomes of his business?

The unkindest cut of all has been the refusal of bail because he might be a flight risk. He is a Cedar Rapidian; born and bred. Why conclude he might be a flight risk? It is very difficult not to conclude that this speaks more of the 'predisposition” of the court about Aossey's religion than it does his possibility of flight. Here's hoping we can do better than this.

Bob Ballantyne

Ely